Halidzor Fortress occupies a special place in the late medieval Armenian architecture as a remarkable example of combination of the fortress and the religious complex. It is located on the right bank of the Voghji River and is surrounded by wall. The length of wall is 50 meters, and the thickness is about one meter. The south-western corner of the fortress is fortificated with a pyramid with a circular plan. It has two entrances – southern and northern, and is made of basalt large stones. The church has no narthex. Halidzor fortress, like other fortresses in Armenia, had a secret passage.
The well-established transport infrastructure of Armenia allows to get to Halidzor Fortress by a private car or with the help of various travel companies which offer regular excursions and tours to different sights of the country. Due to the geographical location of Halidzor Fortress the trip will not seem long.
The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Halidzor Fortress depends on the weather conditions.
The name Halidzor arose from the name of the settlement Halis. Princess Hamazaspuhi presented Halidzor to Tatev Monastery in the 10th century. The fortress was part of the monastery estates until the XIX century.
The Armenian commander Davit Bek established the main center of the liberation movement here. The Persian troops could not seize the fortress due to the powerful protective walls of the fortress. However, the Persians managed to learn about the underground spring that supplied the fortress with water. The enemy blocked the water, and the besieged became weak because of thirst. One night they left the fortress through a secret passage, and the Persian Shah conquered the empty fortress.
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